Portable telescopic outdoor electric lantern



Jan. 2, 1962 R. J. SILVERMAN 3,015,720

PORTABLE TELESCOPIC OUTDOOR ELECTRIC LANTERN Filed March 18, 1960 INVENToR. RICHARD J SILVERMAN Arran/[y United This invention concerns an improved lantern construction.

The invention is particularly directed at a novel support for a wired electric lantern so arranged that a post forming part of the support can be thrust into the ground in an upright position, and a lamp having a novel splined bushing can be inserted into the post without in any way disturbing the wiring of the lamp. The post is provided with telescopically attached sections for adjusting the height of the post at will.

It is therefore one object of the invention to provide an electric larnp support with a splined tubular bushing independent of the wiring of the lamp.

It is another object to provide a support for an outdoor lantern including a plurality of telescopically engaged cylindrical sections and a lamp having a splined bushing inserted in a free end of one section for supporting the lamp. i

A further object is to provide a lamp support conn struction of the type described which permits interchanging diiferent types of lamps upon a lantern post.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claim in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

FIG. 1 is an exploded elevational view of one lamp post embodying the invention.

FIGS. 2 and 3 are bottom plan views of sections of the post.

FIG. 4 is an elevational view of part of another lamp post in assembled form embodying the invention, a portion of the post being broken away.

FIG. 5 is a perspective exploded view of portions of a lamp support assembly according to the invention.

Referring to FIGS. 1, ,2 and 3, there is shown a lamp post including a plurality of tubular sections 12, 14. The lowermost section 14 has a attened end 16 which permits the bottom end of this section to be thrust into the ground G. Wings 18, 20 of the attened end 16 prevent the tube from rotating. The section 14 has a round cylindrical upper free end 19. The other section 12 has a lower portion 15 cut at two diametrally spaced points 22, 24 and the material of the bottom portion 15 is bent inwardly toward the axis of the tubular section at diametrally spaced points 26, as clearly shown in FIG. 2. This provides a generally constricted form for the lower portion so that it will ft telescopically and snugly into the round top of section 14 or the round top of another similar section 12 so that the post can be made as tall as desired.

A lantern 30 is removably supported on the post 10. This lantern has a conventional globe 31 with transparent or translucent windows 32. The globe is removably supported on a ledge at the top of a cylindrical base 36 and secured by a clamp screw 37. In the lantern is a lamp bulb 38 supported in a cylindrical socket 40. The socket is supported as best shown in FIG. 5 by a bracket 42 having a lower ring 43 threaded on an externally threaded nipple 44. The ring 43 abuts the top of a tubular plastic bushing y45 coaxial with the nipple. The bushing has circumferentially spaced splines 46 Patent O Patented Jan. 2, 1962 ICC extending longitudinally all around the exterior of the bushing.

A nut 48 is threaded on the nipple and abuts the underside of the bushing so that the bushing is effectively clamped between the ring 43 and the nut. Wires 50 are secured to the underside of the socket and pass out o1 the bottom 35 of the cylindrical base through a lateral hole 52. The wires 50 terminate in a plug 54 for connection to a suitable power outlet.

The bushing can be inserted into the open round to; 17 of tubular section 12. The bushing will make 2 snug frictional fit with the smooth inner wall of the section 12. It will be noted that the wires 50 are dressec away and spaced from the bushing so that the bushing can be inserted in and removed from the tube 12 without disturbing the wiring. This arrangement permits different lamps and lanterns to be selectively mounted ir the section 12. FIG. 4 shows another lantern 30i having a different design from that of lantern 30 having the same means for mounting in the tube 12 as lanterr 30 in FIG. 1.

The invention thus provides a quick detachable ancl interchangeable structure for supporting a lamp o1 lantern. The post 10 is readily taken apart and the lantern removed for easy transportation and storage The invention makes it possible to set out quickly z plurality of lanterns on posts at a picnic, garden part5 or any outdoor gathering. The lanterns and posts car just as quickly or even more quickly be disassembled interchanged in position, lamp style, etc.

While I have illustrated and described the preferrec` embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood tha' I do not limit myself to the precise constructions hereir disclosed and that various changes and modications ma! be made within the scope of the invention as defined ir the appended claim.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim ai new, and desire to secure by United States Letter: Patent is: n

In a lantern structure, a supporting post, a cylindrica base on sai-d post, a globe mounted on said cylindrica base, a lamp bulb in said base, a socket in said glob: for threadedly receiving the base of the lamp bulb, z bracket carrying the socket, a ring supporting the bracket a threaded nipple mounting the ring, a bushing sleeve( over the nipple, one end of the bushing contacting thi ring, the other end of the nipple extending outwardly o the bushing, a nut on the extending end of the nippli clamping the bushing between the ring and nut, a tub having one end sleeved over said bushing, the other ent of the tube being reduced in diameter, another tubl aligned with the first-named tube and having one en fitted over the reduced end of the first-named tube, th other end of the second-named tube being pointed, ant opposed wings on the pointed end of said tube, sait cylindrical base having an opening in its side wall, ant electrical conductors extending through the opening i1 said side wall, one end of the conductors connected t1 the lamp bulb, the other end having a plug for connectioi to a source of electromotive force.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,837,989 ONeil Dec. 22, 193 1,873,291 Cole Aug. 23, 193 1,965,428 ONeil July 3, 193 2,299,683 Curtis Oct. 20, 194 2,482,656 Conroy et al. Sept. 20, 194 2,764,670 Van Dusen Sept. 25, 195 2,797,310 Moore .Tune 25, 195 2,892,074 OMorrow June 23, 1951 

